Side wall testing apparatus



June 19, 1956 M. o. JOHNSTON SIDE WALL TESTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l2, 1954 INVENTOR. M/PD/C 0. JOHNSTON BY FIE 1A PIE- 1B MMM 2 Sheets-Sheet M. O. JOHNSTON SIDE WALL. TESTING APPARATUS June 19, 1956 Filed Feb. 12, 1954 United States Patent O sinn WALL TESTING APPARATUS Moralica 0. Johnston, Glendale, Calif., assignor of onefourth to Madge Johnston, one-twelfth to Edgar C. Johnston, Jr., one-twelfth to Gordon C. Johnston, and one-twelfth to Joseph Glenn Johnston, all of Longview, Tex., and one-eighth to` Mordica 0. Johnston, Jr., La Jolla, and one-eighth to Warren C. Johnston, Glendale, Calif.

Application February 12, 1954, Serial No. 409,879

4 Claims. (Cl. 166-120) This invention relates to a side wall testing tool for oil wells and more particularly to a testing tool which may be set successively at a plurality of diierent locations within the well without the use of a tail pipe below the tool and without removing the tool from the well between successive tests.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a testing tool whereby a section of the well may be isolated, and a sample may be obtained of the connate iluid contained therein at any level within the well without the use of a tail pipe extending below the tool.

A further object of this invention is to provide a testing tool wherein wall engaging elements of the tool may be actuated by pumping fluid down through the supporting tubing, and then the tool may be set by downward movement of said tubing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a testing tool, according to either of the preceding objects, wherein the test may be obtained by the use of a pressure bailer which may be lowered within the tubing into fluid-tight connection with the testing tool, and subsequently retrieved through the tubing.

Various other objects of this invention will become apparent in reading the following detailed specication in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figs. la and lb are sectional views of the upper'and lower portions, respectively, of the tool, the parts being shown in the position which they normally occupy when the tool is being lowered within the well.

Figs. 2a and 2b are similar views to those shown in Figs. la and lb, with the parts being shown in the position lwhich they will occupy when the tool is set within the well bore.

Fig. 3 is a composite view showing in an enlarged scale the upper end of the tool shown in Figs. la and 2a and the lower end of the bailer adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the tool.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 444 of Fig. 1b. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5.--5 of Fig. 2b;

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the various views shown, numeral generally indicates a mandrel comprising an upper section 11, a central section 12 and a lower section 13. A tubular bottom piece 14 is threadedly attached to the lower end of theV lower mandrel section 13. Upper and lower packing elements 15 and 16, respectively, are mounted on the mandrel 10 with the lower end of packer element 15 spaced from the upper end of packer element 16. A tubular sleeve member 17 is slidably Vmounted on thel mandrel 10 above the upper end of the upper packer element 15 and has threadedly attached to its upper end a tubular sub 18 adapted to be connected to the lower end of-test string of'tubing (not shown). A spacing sleeve 19 is slidablymounted on the mandrel 10 between the packing elements I5 and-16. .The upper end of the upper packing element 15"is connected .tothe sleeve 17 by means of asplitring assembly 20, the split ring being held together by tangentially extending bolts 24. In the same manner, the lower end of the packing element 15 is connected to the upper end of the spacing sleeve 19 by a split ring 21 and tangential bolts 25. The upper end of the lower packer 16 is connected to the lower end of the spacing sleeve 19 by a split ring 22 held in place by tangential bolts 26, and the lower end of the lower packing element 16 is connected to the member 14 by a split ring 23 held in place by tangential bolts 27.

A plurality of locking dogs 28 are pivotally mounted on the member 14 by a plurality of pivot pins 29. Each of these dogs is provided with an inwardly extending lug 3() which extends through a slot 30a formed in the member 14 into the central passage 31 extending therethrough. A tubular dog actuating sleeve 32 is slidably mounted within the central passage 31 and has a groove 36 formed on its exterior surface into which the lugs 30 extend. The sleeve 32 has adjacent its upper end a restricted orifice, whereby iluid pumped down through the tubing will build up a pressure above the sleeve element and force the sleeve element downwardly, thus pivoting the dogs 2S outwardly into engagement with the well bore. A tubular spring retaining member is threaded into the lower end of the passageway 31 and bears against the lower end of a spring 35, the upper end of which abuts the lower end of the sleeve 32, thus biasing the sleeve upwardly against the bottom surface of the lower mandrel section 13.

The spacing sleeve 19 has a portion of enlarged internal diameter intermediate the ends thereof forming an annular chamber 37 between the inner surface of the sleeve 19 and the outer surface of the mandrel 10. A plurality of lateral test ports 38 extend through the sleeve 19 and provide iluid communication between the area of the well bore between the upper and lower packing elements 15 and 16 and the annular chamber 37. The intermediate section 12 of the mandrel 10 has a plurality of lateral ports 39 which are adapted to be in register with the annular chamber 37 when the packer is set within a well bore in the manner shown in Fig. 2b.

An inner mandrel, generally indicated at 40, comprises an upper mandrel section 41, an intermediate section 42 and a lower section 43. The inner mandrel is mounted within the outer mandrel 10, with the lower portion 42 thereof in sliding engagement with the inner surface of the outer mandrel section 12. The intermediate section 42 of the inner mandrel is spaced inwardly from the upper section 11 of the outer mandrel providing an annular passageway 100 extending longitudinally between said mandrels.v The inner mandrel section 42 has a longitudinally extending central passage tion 43 above the test ports 46 to prevent any fluid from escaping upwardly between the inner mandrel section 42 and the outer mandrel section l2. A pair of O-ring seals 48 and 49 spaced from each other are mounted on the lower portion of the lower mandrel section 43 below the ports 46. Said O-ring seals are adapted to be spaced one on either 'side of the'test ports 39, inV the manner shown' in Fig. lb, when the inner mandrel 40 is in its uppermost position with respect to the mandrel 10, thus preventing iluid from escaping either upwardly or downwardly between the mandrels when the mandrel A tubular sleeve 50, larger indiametertthan the man'-A An O-ring seal 47 isfmount-l ed on the outer surface of the lower inner mandrel sec-- drel 10, is threadedly attached to the upper end of the upper mandrel section l1 land extends upwardly therefrom and slidably engages the inner surface of the sub 18. The lower end of the sleeve 50 contains an annular abutment member 5l also threadedly attached to the upper end of the mandrel section 11. An annular spring retaining member 52 rests against the upper end of the abutment member 51. The upper section 41 of the inner mandrel 40 has an external flange 53 formed thereon, and a spring 54 is confined between the lower surface of said annular flange 53 andthe upper surface of the spring retaining member 52, thus urging the inner mandrel 40 upwardly relative to the outer mandrel 10.

A tubular member 55, having an external flange 56 at the lower end thereof, is slidably received within the upper end of the tubular sub 50 with the bottom surface of the tiange '56 resting against an upwardly facing shoulder provided in said member 50 adjacent the upper end thereof. A retaining member 57, spaced from the tubular member 55, is threaded into the upper end of the tubular member 50 and abuts against the upper surface of the flange 56 to retain said tubular member 55 in proper position. The upper surface of the annular flange 53, on the upper mandrel section 41, abuts against the bottom of the tubular member 55, thus limiting the upward motion of the inner mandrel 40. The upper end of the upper mandrel 41 above the lateral flange 53 is slidably received within the tubular member 55, and an O-ring seal mounted in a groove in the inner surface of the tubular member 55 sealingly lengages the external surface of the upper mandrel section 41 to prevent fluid passage between said parts.

The lower end of the upper inner mandrel section 41 is counterbored in the manner shown at 102. A sleeve 103, having an external flange 104 on the lower end thereof, is slidably received in said upper inner mandrel section with the external ange 104 slidably received in said counterbore portion. A spring 105, with its lower end bearing against a fitting 106 threadedly received in the lower end of the upper mandrel section 41 and its upper end bearing against the lower surface of the flange 104, urges the sleeve 103 upwardly with respect to the upper mandrel section 41. An O-ring seal 107 is mounted on the inner surface of the upper mandrel section 41 and sealingly engages the external surface of the sleeve 103. The intermediate mandrel section 42 is threaded into the lower end of the tubular fitting 106.

The tubular element 55 is provided with an external upwardly facing shoulder 70 adjacent to, but spaced from, its upper end. Adjacent the upper end of the tubular element 55 and above the shoulder 70 a plurality of bores 63 extend through the walls thereof, and each of the bores 63 contains a locking ball 64. A locking sleeve 65 is slidably mounted on the external surface of the tubular element 55 and is adapted to force the balls 64 inwardly to engage a groove 97 on a bailer to be hereinafter described. The sleeve 65 has, adjacent its lower end, a portion of enlarged internal diameter into which the balls may move, when the sleeve is in its upper position to release the bailer from its locked connection with the tubular element 55. A spring 110 bears at its lower end against the upwardly facing shoulder 70 of the tubular element, and at its upper end against the lower surface of the sleeve 65, thus biasing the locking sleeve 65 upwardly toward its released position.

The bailer, generally indicated at 66 and illustrated in the upper portion of Fig. 3, comprises a tubular body portion 69 closed at its upper end (not shown) and a tubular extension 70 threaded into Vthe lower end of the body portion 69. The bailer extension is counterbored at its lower end to receive Vthe enlarged portion 72 of a valve housing generally indicated at 71. The valve housing is comprised of two sections 71a and'71b threadedly connected together. .The upper `surface of vthe en 4 larged poriton 72 of the valve housing 71 is adapted to abut Vagainst 'the bottom of the counterbored portion of the tubular extension 70. An abutment member '74 is threaded into the lower end of the tubular extension 70 and slidably receives .the portion of the valve housing 71 below the enlarged portion 72 and is adapted to abut against lthe lower end of the enlarged portion 72 to limit downward movement of the valve housing 71.

A valve chamber 76 of enlarged diameter is provided in the internal surface of the tubular valve housing member 71a adjacent the lower end thereof. A sleeve valve 77 is slidably mounted in the valve housing 71. Said valve comprises a tubular valve member 78 having a central passage 79 therethrough the passageway being closed .adjacent its mid lportion by a partition 80. A plurality of ports 82 extend through the wall of the tubular valve element 78 immediately above the partition 80, and similarly a plurality of lateral ports extend through the wal-ls of the valve member 78 immediately below partition 80. When the valve element 78 is moved upwardly sothat both of the ports 82 and 83 are contained within the enlarged annular valve chamber 76, fluid is permitted to bypass the partition and ow upwardly through said valve element. An O-ring seal 84 is mounted on the external surface of the valve member 78 between said lateral ports and in sliding engagement with the surface of the -valve housing 'member 71b to prevent uid flow between the valve housing and the valve member. Similarly, an O-ring seal 85 is mounted on the external surface of 'the valve element 78 immediately below the ports 83. The valve element 78 has an annular flange 86 adjacent the upper end thereof which is slidably received within a counterbore in the upper end of the valve housing 71, and thus limits the downward movement of the valve element 78 relative to the housing 71. An annular spring retaining member 89 is threaded into the upperend of said counterbore and is adapted to compressa spring 88 confined between the lower surface of said spring retaining member 89 and the upper surface of the ange 86, thus biasing the valve element 78 downward to the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the ports 83 are closed off by the engagement of the O-ring seals 84 and 85 with the walls of the valve housing 7112.

The valve element is normally'locked in its lowermost closed position lby a plurality of balls 91 located in bores through the wall of the valve housing portion 71b, and adapted to extend into a groove 92 formed on the external surface of the valve element 78. The balls 91 are held in engagement vwith the groove 92 by a sleeve member 93 slidably mounted on the outer surface of the valve housing portion 71b, when said sleeve is in its lowermost position. Adjacent vthe lower end of the sleeve 93 is a portion of enlarged internal diameter 94, whereby Whenthe sleeve is raised with respect to the valve housing portion 71b, the balls are permitted to enter into the enlarged portion 94 and release the valve element 78 from its locked engagement with the valve housing portion 71b, A spring 96, confined between the upper surface of the sleeve 93 vand the lower surface of the upper valve housing :portion 71a, normally urges the sleeve 93 towards its lock position. A depending tubular section 98, attached to the lower end of the upper valve housing element 71a and concentric therewith, acts as a housing for the spring96.

An O-ring seal 99 is mounted on the external surface of the lower valve housing 71b, adjacent the lower end `iltereof, and is adapted to be in sealing engagement with the inner surface of the tubular element 55 when the bailer is vin `proper register with the tubular mandrel 5S to receive a test sample from within the tool.

The device is operated `in the `following manner: The tool-is lowered-'into vthe wellbore until it is adjacent the formation to Ybe tested. Fluid is then pumped down through the test `string and passes -downwardly through the passageway i59 and 108 into "the passageway v100 between the inner and outer mandrels. From the lower end of the passageway 100 the uid passes through longitudinal passageways 109, formed in the outer mandrel section 12, into the tubular passageway 110 in the lower mandrel section 13, through the restricted orifice 33 vin the slide members 32, and out the bottom of the tool. The iiuid passing through the restricted orifice 33 builds up a pressure above the upper end of sleeve 32 forcing the sleeve downwardly and thereby swinging the dogs 28 outwardly to the position shown at Fig. 2b, wherein the dogs will bite into the wall of the well bore. The test string is then lowered to apply downward pressure on the sleeve 17 and telescope the packers downwardly with respect to the mandrel 10, forcing them to expand laterally outwardly, in the manner shown in Fig. 2b, into engagement with the well bore. When the parts telescope downwardly relative to the mandrel 10, the sleeve 19 is brought into register with the ports 39 in the manner shown in Fig. 2b.

After the tool has been set within the well bore, the bailer 69 is lowered through the tubular test string by a wire line (not shown), and the lower portion 71b of the valve housing 71 is slidably received within the tubular element 55. 'I'he seal 99 on the housing 71 engages the inner surface of the tubular element 55, providing a fluid seal therebetween. The lower end of the valve element 78 abuts against the upper end of the slide member 104, forcing the same down against the tension of the spring 105. The lower end of the valve housing portion 71b abuts the upper end of the tubular element 41 and forces the inner mandrel 40 downwardly relative to the outer mandrel against the compression of spring 54 in order to bring the ports 46 to register with the ports 39. The lower end of the bailer extension 70 contacts the upper end of the sleeve 65, forcing the sleeve downwardly and thereby forcing the balls 64 inwardly to engage the groove 97 on the outer surface of the valve housing member 72 and lock the bailer to the mandrel 40. At the same time the upper surface 67 of the tubular element 55 contacts the lower surface of the sleeve 93 and forces the sleeve upwardly to release the balls 91 and permit the valve 78 to move relative to the housing 71. The spring 105 forces the sleeve 103 upwardly to force the valve element 78 upwardly against the tension of spring 88 until the ports 83 and the ports 82 are both in register with the enlarged portion 76 of the valve housing 72, whereby fluid is permitted to llow upwardly through the lower portion of the valve element through the enlarged portion 76 around the partition 80 and back into the upper portion of the valve element and through the passageway 79 into the bailer 69. When the bailer is withdrawn by means of the wire line, the parts will return to the position shown in Fig. 3.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the structure by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A side wall testing device comprising a tubular mandrel, upper and lower packers mounted on said mandrel, means connecting the upper end of the upper packer to a well string, a tubular spacer member slidable on the mandrel and connected to the lower end of the upper packer and the upper end of the lower packer, a tubular shoe connected to the lower end of the mandrel and the lower end of the lower packer, a plurality of wall-engaging dogs pivotally mounted on said shoe, each of said dogs having an inwardly extending lug extending into the central passage through said shoe, a sleeve slidably mounted for limited longitudinal movement in said central passage, an annular groove in said sleeve into which said lugs extend, and a restricted oritce in said tubular sleeve, whereby uid pumped downwardly through said well string will force said sleeve downwardly relative to said shoe to pivot said dogs outwardly into engagement with the bore wall and subsequent downward movement of said well string will telescope said packers downwardly relative to said mandrel and expand them laterally into contact with the bore wall.

2. A side wall testing device comprising a tubular mandrel, upper and lower packers mounted on said mandrel, means connecting the upper end of the upper packer to a well string, a tubular spacer member slidably on the mandrel and connected to the lower end of the upper packer and the upper end of the lower packer, a plurality of ports in said spacer member, a plurality of ports in said mandrel below said spacer member, a tubular shoe connected to the lower end of the mandrel and the lower end of the lower packer, a plurality` of wall engaging dogs 'pivotally mounted on said shoe, each of said dogs having an inwardly extending lug extending into the central passage through said shoe, a sleeve slidablyV mounted for limited longitudinal movement in said central passage, spring means urging said sleeve toward its uppermost position relative to said shoe, an annular groove in said sleeve into which said lugs extend, and a restricted orice in said tubular sleeve, whereby liuid pumped downwardly through said well string will force said sleeve downwardly relative to said shoe to pivot said dogs outwardly into engagement with the bore wall and subsequent downward movement of said well string will telescope said packers downwardly relative to said mandrel and expand them laterally into contact with the bore wall and bring the ports in said spacer member into register with the ports in said mandrel.

3. A side wall testing device comprising an outer tubular mandrel, upper and lower packers mounted on said mandrel, means connecting the upper end of the upper packer to a well string, a tubular spacer member slidable on the mandrel and connected to the lower end of the upper packer and the upper end of the lower packer, a plurality of ports in said spacer member, a portion of reduced internal diameter in said outer mandrel below said spacer member, a plurality of lateral test ports in said portion connecting the reduced diameter central passage therethrough with the exterior of said outer mandrel, an inner mandrel closed at its lower end, the closed end of said inner mandrel being slidably received in said reduced diameter portion of said outer mandrel, ports in said inner mandrel adjacent the closed end thereof adapted to be brought into register with the ports in said outer mandrel by longitudinal movement of said inner mandrel relative to said outer mandrel, a tubular shoe connected to the lower end of the mandrel and the lower end of the lower packer, a plurality of wall-engaging dogs pivotally mounted on said shoe, each of said dogs having an inwardly extending lug extending into the central passage through said shoe, a sleeve slidably mounted in said central passage, an annular groove in said sleeve into which said lugs extend, and a restricted orice in said tubular sleeve, whereby Huid pumped downwardly through said well string will force said sleeve downwardly relative to said shoe tol pivot said dogs outwardly into engagement with the bore wall and subsequent downward movement of said well string will telescope said packers downwardly relative to said mandrel and expand them laterally into contact with the bore wall and bring the ports in said spacer member into register with the ports in said outer mandrel.

4. A side wall testing device comprising an outer tubular mandrel, upper and lower packers mounted on said mandrel, means connecting the upper end of the upper packer to a well string, a tubular spacer member slidable on the mandrel and connected to the lower end of the upper packer and the upper end of the lower packer, a plurality of ports in said spacer member, a portion of reduced internal diameter in said outer mandrel below said spacermember, a plurality of lateral-test-ports in said portion connecting the reduced diameter central passagertherethrough with the exterior of said outer'mandrel, an inner mandrel closed at'itslower end, the yclosed end of said inner mandrel lbeingslidably received in'said reduced diameter portion'of `said outer mandrel, ports in said inner mandrel adjacent the closed end "thereof adapted to be brought into register with `the ports in said outer mandrel by longitudinal movement of said inner mandrel relative to -said outer mandrel, a tubular shoe connected to the lower end of the mandrel and the lower end ofthe lower packer, a plurality of wall-engaging dogs pivotally mounted on said shoe, each of `said dogs having an inwardly extending lug extendinginto the `central passage through said shoe, asleeve slidably mounted in said central passage, spring means urging `said -sleeve toward its uppermost position relative to said shoe, -an annular groove in said sleeve into `whichsaid lugs extend, and a yrestricted orifice in `said tubular sleeve, fwhere'by iluid pumped downwardly through said well Vstring will force said sleeve downwardly relative to said shoe to pivot'said ldogs outwardly'into engagement with the bore wall and subsequent downward movement lof said well string will telescope said-packers downwardly relative to saidmandrel and expand them laterally into Acontact with the bore wall and bring the ports in said spacer member into -register with the Yports in said outer mandrel.

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